To me the porch light can be a sign of welcoming, "we'll leave the light on for you" or might be waiting for someone to arrive after dark. It's always comforting to see the light on at the end of a journey and know you are home. In the light of day, the porch light can be over looked, taken for granted, forgotten. I believe the spirit of being an American, is based on hope, the belief that there is always a way... often we just need to remember to turn the light on.